Sunday 31 May 2009

Digital Scrap Cafe - June Collaboration kit

You must check this kit out from the Digital Scrap Cafe. It is called Birthday Girl and is the June Collaboration kit and the best bit is, that is only $4.99. It can be found here. It is jam packed with elements and papers - fantastic value for money. I have been itching to show it off.
Here is the preview:Here is the first of many layouts from me:

Digital Pixel Pixies - Butterflies and Flowers - Coh Scraps

This is my second layout using the lovely kit by Coh Scraps. It can be purchased here This is James and Zoe playing in the park yesterday on the zip wire even though James has a broken leg.

Digi Chick - Inspiration Challenge - 30th May

Digi Chick has some great challenges. The Inspiration challenge for this week was to use a digi dare from the Digi Dare site. I chose to use the same one as Aqua Rose used for hers - Dare # 123:
"You - Right Now.I’m always fascinated by Ali Edwards posts about her “right now”. She always takes such an in depth look into her life at the moment and you can see the joy (or sadness, anxiousness) reflected in her words. For your dare this week, I want you to describe YOUR (or hubby’s, children’s) “right now”. What do you love to do, what are your days filled with, what silly routines do you have that make your life yours?
Dare Flair:You must list, with a little journaling, 5 things from the “Right Now”Please include the words “right now” on your layout somewhere, in the journaling, title, background, anywhere.
Design your layout on the edges, it can only be on two edges, any two edges you want, but it can reach no farther out to the middle of your page than 1/3 the width/height (so for a 12×12 all your design must stay within 4 inches to the edge)
Finally, please include some sort of representation of your right now, photographed or extracted on the page, i.e. if you’re obsessed with your blackberry right now, extract a photo of it (or a stock photo) and use it as an element, or use a photo of it on the page, be creative!"
This is my layout. I have used Tracy Stroud's kit called Art in Me - wow what a fabby kit.

Saturday 30 May 2009

Digi Chick - Scraplift Challenge 29th May

This week we were challenged to scraplift one of Bexy's layouts from her gallery. She is one talented lady.
I chose this layout to scraplift and I hope I have done it justice.
This is my layout. I haved the Cherry Delight which can be purchased from Digi Chick.

Digital Scrap Cafe - A freebie template

Digital Scrap Cafe is giving away a fab freebie template by Anita Designs in their store here.
Here is a preview:
and here is my layout. I have turned it on it's side and I have used the fab Rainy Afternoon kit by Mini Cakes Designs. The stitches and the orangey paper are from the Watch Me Grow kit by Laurie's Scraps. Both kits are available from the Digital Scrap Cafe.

Digi Dares - Check this out!!!

Are you stuck for inspiration? Lost your mojo and don't know where to find it?

Well check this site out... The Digi Dares

I think this is going to be my new best friend!!!!

Friday 29 May 2009

Digital Pixel Pixies - Butterflies and Flowers - Coh Scraps

My other CT team is for Digital Pixel Pixies. My designer to work for the month is Coh Scraps. You can see the kits here.
This layout is made using the great Butterflies and Flowers kit.This is a preview of the kit.

Thursday 28 May 2009

Rainy Afternoon by Minicake Designs

I love this kit. It is fabulous. It is called Rainy Afternoon by Minicake Designs. It can be purchased from the Digital Scrap Cafe here.
Here is the previewThis is the layout I have made with it. This style of layout is very popular at the moment and is quite different for me. But I thought I would have a go and this is the perfect kit for it.

Wednesday 27 May 2009

Digital Scrap Cafe - Clean and Simple Challenge

This is my final layout for today.
This is for the Clean and Simple Challenge over on the Digital Scrap Cafe. We were provided a template by Timounette and we have to make a layout that is clean and simple.

Believe it or not, this layout is also using the May Collaboration kit called My Mother - see how versatile it is!!!!

Digital Scrap Cafe - What is in the Coffee Cup challenge?

You must get yourself over to the Digital Scrap Cafe for some fantastic digital challenges. I have just done the What is in the Coffee Cup? challenge. You are given a list of items and you have to come up with a layout using each item.This is my layout. I have used the May Collaboration kit again which is available in the Digital Scrap Cafe store. I also used Cintia Tavares Kraft Paper kit - which is also available in the store.

Digi Chick - Sketch Challenge 25 May 09

We had a great sketch to work with for this challenge. I have used Pamela Donnis' May Grab Bag which can purchased from the Digi Chick store.

Tuesday 26 May 2009

Digital Scrap Cafe - My Mother Kit - First Layout

Wow this May collaboration kit has so much in it that it has taken me all night to put a layout together. I just kept wanting to put more and more on it. But I didn't want to detract from the photos of Zoe with her teddy, so I had to refrain myself.
The journalling reads "This is Teddy. He goes everywhere with Zoe. To bed, to school, even to the toilet with her. It is true LOVE!!!"
If you want to buy this kit - I promise you won't be disappointed - click here. It contains over 80 papers, 100 elements, and 1 full set of alpha
Here is my layout.

I have used this layout for the UK Scrappers May Week 4 weekly challenge.

Digital Scrap Cafe - Creative Team

I applied to be on the Creative Team for a digital store called The DigitalScrapCafe over the weekend and I found out last night that I got accepted. I am very excited. The store is fantastic with some lovely kits. So watch my digi blog for some layouts made with the scrummy kits. If you fancy a peek at the store it can be found here http://www.digitalscrapcafe.com/cafe
I am sure you will find lots of yummy things to tempt you. Have a look at this fab May collaboration kit called My Mother. I will be doing some layouts with this kit shortly.


They also have a brilliant forum with lots of chatter and challenges etc. Come and join in the fun here http://digitalscrapcafe.com/forum/

Monday 25 May 2009

See now it is Red, White and Blue

Doncha just lurve digi?
Exact same layout - just recoloured!!!

Digital Scrap Cafe - Scraplift 25th May

I have found a fab digi site called Digital Scrap Cafe and they have just accepted me on the CT. I am very excited.
So I have done one of their challenges tonight. The challenge is to scraplift this layout by Veer.
Trouble is I have just re-read the challenge and seen that it had to be in red, white and blue. Oops!!!
I really like what I have come up with so I will leave as is and re-do another one for the challenge. I have used Dawn Inskip's Strawberry Crush kit that can be found on PickleBerryPop.

Sunday 24 May 2009

Digi Chick - May Workshop - April Layouts

This is the final part of the first challenge. These are my April layouts. This challenge compliments my Photo A Day perfectly.
I have used the Lottie Dottie kit by Amy Sumrall.

Saturday 23 May 2009

Digi Chick - May Workshop - March Layouts

These are my layouts for March. I have used Mira Designs Spring Melody kit.

Digi Chick - Sketch Challenge 18 May 09

I just lurve it over on Digi Chick - cool kits, cool challenges and lots of very talented ladies.
This is a layout for the sketch challenge. I have used the new Pomengranate kit by Studio K and a background doodle by Dawn Inskip. I have recoloured the doodle and then used various elements and papers from the Pomengranate kit.
The photo is of Zoe yesterday on the swings at Moors Valley in her Peppa Pig sunglasses.

Friday 22 May 2009

Digi Chick - May Workshop - February Layouts

In continuing with the Year in Review challenge over on Digi Chick here are my February pages.

This is why I love digi

I wasn't very happy with my January layouts so I have changed some papers. If this was real life scrapping I would have to start it all again, but with digi I can turn layers on and off until I the result that I am looking for.
So here are January pages redone and I have added some numbers too.

Thursday 21 May 2009

Digi Chick - May Workshop

This challenge has been set by Dana aka Missrubikscube. She says:
"At the end of each year, I always try to create pages to summarize what happened each month so that I have a quick way to remember the highlights of my year. This month's workshop challenge is to begin creating these pages so that by the end of the year we will have two pages done for each month as well as a summary page for the year"
This month's challenge was to scrap two pages each week - one page being a multi-photo overview and one page focusing more on journaling. She provided us with templates that we will use over and over again, which will give our final product a cohesive look. The schedule for this project will be to scrap January, Febuary, March and April during this workshop. The plan was to have another workshop in September - and then a final one in December. However Dana is now thinking of doing the 2 layouts each month.
So I have started this project 3 weeks late and have to catch up on 8 layouts by the end of May to earn my challenge points.
Here is my multiphoto layout for January:
And here is journalling page:

Monday 18 May 2009

UK Scrappers - May Week 3 Challenge

This week's challenge was set by the Secret Stash Strokers and is their 2nd weekly challenge This year the Playtex Moonwalk took place in London on 16th May. The Moonwalk, is one of a number of charity fundraisers which raises lots of money for breast cancer research. (see http://www.walkthewalk.org/ for more info). They based their challenge around this event.
Use feet in your layout, a baby photo, sports day, a walk or some favourite shoes etc = 10pts
Something round for the moon = 10pts
Ribbon = 5pts
Something pink = 5pts
I have used the Cherry Delight kit from the Digi Chick shop and have fulfilled all of the above criteria.
I have also used this layout for the Scraplift challenge over on Digi Chick.

Sunday 17 May 2009

Digi Chick - Sketch Challenge 11 May 09

I have done this layout for the Sketch Challenge 05/11/09.I have used mostly elements and papers from the Spring Melody kit by Mira Designs. The daisies are from Dawn Inskip's new kit called A Day in Paradise.The butterflies are from Joanna Bain's Sugar and Spice kit.The fonts are DymoFontInvers for the title and the journalling is using Pea Candice.

Digital Scrapbook Place - NKOTB Round 3 - Version 2

A total rework of version 1 which I really wasn't happy with.
Have used Be A Dreamer Page Kit by Tina Chambers http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.c...oducts_id=8395
I have recoloured the papers to make them a little more girly. I have stamped the WordArt in white over the paper to make it appear as part of the paper design. I have made a star using the Cookie Cutter tool in Elements and then cut my photo to make it appear that Zoe is coming out of the star. The stars at the top of the page are the journalling star at varying sizes with an Inner Glow and Small Noisy Border applied to them. Hopefully it looks like she is reaching for the stars.
I have then journalled all the way round the star using the Palatino Linotype font.
The journalling reads:"You had new Peppa Pig pyjamas. I wanted a photo of you in them. You wouldn't stand still. You jumped and bounced all over the lounge and I took over 30 photos of you. I love that something so simple makes you so very happy." I have also added the words "Zoe 12th May 2009".
I then made the title using the tags from the Word Frame and the Brad of Stars.
Much more pleased with this one.

Saturday 16 May 2009

Digital Scrapbook Place - NKOTB Round 3 - Version 1

I have used the Be A Dreamer page kit by Tina Chambers. I have recoloured the papers to make them pink as they are originally blues and greens. The background paper is a combination of 2 papers with the top one being an adjustment layer, recoloured and the opacity lowered so you just get the swirls. I have also added the Word Art in white with a lower opacity in varying sizes to make it look like it is part of the paper.
I have made a star using the CoolSpotDesign paper, again recoloured and I have layered it and erased parts of it so that the photo frame looks like it is tucked inside the star. My journalling is the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star nursery rhyme and I have put it on the BeatenUpStar element which I have added the Brad of Stars on to as well.
Not very happy with this layout at all and I think I may totally restart it. Was sat in bed playing with this and am not sure I like what I have come up with.

Friday 15 May 2009

Doreen Stolz - Best Friends Cluster Frame

I downloaded these flowery frames this morning from Digital Freebies - I love them and they inspired me to have a little play. They are by Doreen Stolz. There were 3 sets of frames and are an add on to her Best Friends kit.
I have added the additional pink ribbon from the Cherry Delight kit from DigiShopTalk to the frames and erased the parts of the leaves to make it appear that the ribbon is on top like the green one that was part of the frame.
The green background and the white scalloped paper is from Dawn Inskip's Hush kit and the gingham paper is from the Cherry Delight kit. The tag and staple is also from the Cherry Delight kit. The Perfect metal embellishment is from the Another Day in Paradise kit also by Dawn Inskip.

Thursday 14 May 2009

UK Scrappers - May Week 2 Challenge

This week's challenge is set by the Butterfly Bonanzas. Their rules are:
- Design your own sketch based on packaging, a film poster or book cover (10)
- Include something transforming (10)
- Use spring colours (5)
- Use something gold (5)

What a brilliant challenge. I searched through the cupboards and thought that the Special K box would lend itself to a digi layout.
I have used the new Dawn Inskip A Day in Paradise kit which has lots of yummy spring colours and made a semi circular mask on the right hand side of the layout. The photos (from left to right) are of Zoe at 2 weeks old, 1 year old and 3 years old. This is my transformation. Each photo is on a clipping mask. The gold is in the lettering and on the bordered edge of the semi circle. I have used lots of the sequins elements to add a bit of texture to the layout.
Another fabulous kit from Dawn.

Tuesday 12 May 2009

Last lesson on Digi in Deep by Jessica Sprague

Ah now I will be bereft. This is the final lesson of Jessica Sprague's Digi in Deep lesson - now I am on my own!
This has taken me evenings to complete but it was definitely worth it.

Sunday 10 May 2009

Digital Scrapbook Place - NKOTB Round 2 version 3

After posting my version one I realised I hadn't put any shadow on my title and it looked very flat - so I added some and increased the opacity of the photo to make it a bit brighter. I also changed one of the eyelets and ribbon for one with a bow on it and put it in the place of the top right one.
Then I got a bit more contructive criticism and so I moved the bow to the left, changed the shadow on the middle frame, feathered the edge of the photo at the top a bit more to "blend" it better with the paper. I also cut the middle of the round embellishments out on the frames so you could see the frame underneath. And moved them over a bit too as they were kissing the edge of the page.

I am learning loads doing this contest and it is really interesting looking at other entries and reading their CCs too - makes you really think when you are putting the layout together.

Digital Scrapbook Place - NKOTB Round 2

For this week's round of the contest,we were given a kit to use and we could one additional extra. We told to try and use the Rules of Thirds on our layout and to either use sketch from the DSP gallery of sketches or to scraplift a layout from one of the galleries.
I have used elements from the chosen Sweet Pollyanna kit and have added an grungy overlay by Tina Chambers which I have used the Overlay blending mode on.
My main photo is the width of the layout and I have taken the opacity down to 62% to make it blend with the paper and I have feathered the edges to take away any harsh edges.
I have then added three smaller photos to the frames and I have one of them flipped horizontally. I have applied the Inner Glow and Small Noisy Border effects to the titles to make them look floury to match in with the cooking theme.
The ribbon and eyelet I have cut up and made as separate embellishments and also with the flowers - I think this them look like they have been cut out like using a cookie cutter that we made the cookies with.
Sweet Pollyanna Kit by Erica Belton http://store.digitalscrapbookplace.c...oducts_id=8774/
Darn Dirty Overlay by Tina Chambers http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=281185 as my extra

Wednesday 6 May 2009

Second Layout using What Girls Dream kit

This is my second layout - this kit is fab, fab, fab!!! I have done it as a double layout and used two lots of hills to make it look like they are going into the background. I have used the tree and re-sized it several times to enhance the perspective. I have put Zoe into the car and James and Connor in the castle.



Tuesday 5 May 2009

What Girls Dream by Booland Designs

I applied for a one kit call to come up with a couple of layouts using this fantastic kit by Booland Designs.
The kit is called What Girls Dream. It is brilliant and suits my photos of Zoe so well. It can be found for sale at Stone Accents Studio . It is filled with 12 beautiful papers and over 40 delightful elements, some shadowed, this kit is full of magic and whimsy and is perfect for scrapping all those precious princess moments but this kit works equally well for the tomboy in your family.

Monday 4 May 2009

UK Scrappers - May Week 1 Challenge

This week's challenge was set by the Sizzling Hot Scrappers. Their rules were "Emerald as it is May's birthstone, eighty years ago Aubrey Hepburn was born, this makes us think about Breakfast at Tiffany's and bling, the 4th of May is a movement day in China, Spring time is a time for inspiring poems so some journalling in the form of a poem be it a line or the whole poem, (you can make the poem up yourself or use someone else's).
So to recap:-
Colour - emerald 5pts
Some bling - 5pts
Movement - either in the photo or something on the LO - 10pts
Journalling - in the form of a poem (whole or line) - 10pts."
I have used Day's Digi Designs Roots and Wings freebie kit for the whole layout. The journalling tag was made from two different elements. I have added some butterflies to the tree.
My movement part is that I had to sit very still this morning to get this photo - any sudden movement and the robin would have flown away.
Full points claimed.

Digi in Deep - Lesson Two complete

This is lesson two of the Digi in Deep course. Jessica's layout was blues and greens but I have changed the colours of some of the papers to make them pink to match Zoe's pink pyjamas. In this lesson I learned how to make my own brush (the numbers stamped as an overlay on the photos and on the green star), used gradient masks to make the 2 photos blend together and used an alpha as an element.

These are photos of Zoe on her first birthday and on her third birthday. It made me feel sad looking though all the old photos of her - she is growing up so fast.

Digital Scrapbook Place - NKOTB Round 1 revisions 2 and 3

The whole idea of this contest is to get some feedback on our layouts.
After my feedback I have made some changes. My feedback was that the pin was too big - which seems galringly obvious now that it has been pointed out to me. The word art should have some pixels deleted where it went over the photo to make it look like it had been stamped, maybe take the shadow off the wordart and also the ribbon cut the photo into two.
So I have moved one of the papers and made it horizontal and then put the ribbon around this. This meant I could move the photo over and make the word art a bit smaller so it was no longer on the photo. I have decreased the size of the pin.
The only difference between the 2 layouts below is the word art - one has the shadow and one doesn't - what do you think? Which is better?